NadaTeTurbe Posted January 1, 2016 Share Posted January 1, 2016 Let's start on monday the 4th Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seven77 Posted January 1, 2016 Author Share Posted January 1, 2016 Reading for Mon. January 4th: Genesis 1-4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seven77 Posted January 4, 2016 Author Share Posted January 4, 2016 Here's an great intro to reading the Bible worth watching, to get motivated: http://www.instituteofcatholicculture.org/eden-to-eden-a-study-of-salvation-history/ (the 1st video, start at 18:00 and end at 45:48) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seven77 Posted January 5, 2016 Author Share Posted January 5, 2016 Thoughts on Genesis 1 and 2: It's very important to remember that the 1st few chapters of Genesis were not meant to be read as a science or strictly historical textbook. Rather, the intention is to convey truth about God and about man. God created everything that exists. Creation exists outside of God-- it didn't emanate from within God as a part of God, as pagans of that day believed. Everything that God has created has order to it. The 1st 3 days are domains which the 2nd set of 3 days fill. Thus, God addresses the problem of the formlessness and then the void mentioned in the 1st verse. The sun and moon and the living creatures all have dominion over their realms. And man has dominion over it all. God has created everything for man whom he refers to as very good. Chapter 2 is another account of creation and it focuses on humanity and refers to God as The Lord… it's more of a personal account. And God put a garden in Eden and put man in it… that means that the garden is just one part of Eden! I heard somewhere that Eden is a microcosm of the tabernacle or temple in Jerusalem both of which we will read about later and the garden is the holy of holies where the man is to serve as a priest. The commands to till and keep the garden are priestly duties. Finally, I'm struck by the last part of the chapter: the man and woman go together and compose one flesh together. What are your thoughts on these chapters, or chapters 3 and 4? And by the way, is four chapters a bit too much to read every day? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NadaTeTurbe Posted January 5, 2016 Share Posted January 5, 2016 A verse I was happy to discover : "Why are you angry, and why has your countenance fallen? 7 If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin is lurking at the door; its desire is for you, but you must master it." We should not be discouraged when God doesn't answer our prayers Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ash Wednesday Posted January 5, 2016 Share Posted January 5, 2016 The first days of creation are actually some of my most favorite parts of the bible. The way it is written is so eloquent and beautiful. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clk Posted January 5, 2016 Share Posted January 5, 2016 I think four chapters is more than doable and I would like to piggyback on what Ash Wednesday said. The rhythm of these chapters make one want to hear them read aloud. It is like we as part of creation are poetry in God's motion. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seven77 Posted January 6, 2016 Author Share Posted January 6, 2016 19 hours ago, NadaTeTurbe said: A verse I was happy to discover : "Why are you angry, and why has your countenance fallen? 7 If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin is lurking at the door; its desire is for you, but you must master it." We should not be discouraged when God doesn't answer our prayers And we should not be discouraged when we fail to do the good, we shouldn't give in to a bitter discouragement that makes us susceptible to commit spiritual suicide. I used to think that God was displeased with the offering of Cain because it consisted of fruits and vegetables whereas Abel offered livestock… but now I understand that Cain failed to offer the best of the produce of the land and gave the worst of the crops. And when God did not look with pleasure on this, favoring Abel's sacrifice over Cain's, Cain became despondent and gave in to jealousy. He could have thought to himself, “I should've given God the best instead of keeping it to myself… I will try to do better next time… and God will honor my offering just as he honored my brother's offering." Unchecked jealousy can lead to murder. By the way, have you noticed that in one of the Eucharistic prayers that the sacrifice of Abel is mentioned? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seven77 Posted January 9, 2016 Author Share Posted January 9, 2016 (edited) On 1/5/2016, 11:37:05, clk said: I think four chapters is more than doable and I would like to piggyback on what Ash Wednesday said. The rhythm of these chapters make one want to hear them read aloud. It is like we as part of creation are poetry in God's motion. As you and Ash point out, there is a real poetic quality to these chapters of Genesis. It's interesting that you mention wanting to hear the creation account read aloud-- I agree, and I think that the repetition of the days especially comes alive when it's read during the Easter vigil. -------- There are some things I picked up from reading Genesis and from Catholic commentators that I want to share here because they really make the Bible exciting. As I'm reading I'm reminded that---- Seth takes the place of Abel. The wickedness of mankind mentioned in chapter 6 that led up to the flood had to do with the “sons of God” marrying the “daughters of men." Mankind has branched into 2 groups: the righteous line descending from Seth, and the wicked line descending from Cain. The sons of God refer to the line of Seth and the daughters of men refer to the line of Cain–trouble starts when they intermarry. And it's important to remember that Noah was descended from Seth. An interesting thing about the flood: remember at the beginning when the Spirit of God (who we understand to be the Holy Spirit) hovered over the waters? Now, as the floodwaters cover the surface of the world as it was known at the time, Noah sends a dove out-- and it hovers over the waters! This symbolizes a sort of new creation… which brings a New Testament reference to mind (this is typology): “…in the days of Noah, during the building of the ark, in which a few, that is, eight persons, were saved through water. 21 Baptism, which corresponds to this, now saves you, not as a removal of dirt from the body but as an appeal to God for a clear conscience, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ…” (1 Peter 3) After the flood, what's up with that story about Noah getting drunk? Thoughts? Edited January 9, 2016 by Seven77 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NadaTeTurbe Posted January 9, 2016 Share Posted January 9, 2016 About Noah getting drunk, in the jewish tradition, they say that Ham/Cham, raped Noah, because it's what "see the nakedness" means in hebrew. I don't know more... what shocked me (or made me laugh) was the story with Loth and his daughters. So, first there's that... " [19:26] But Lot's wife, behind him, looked back, and she became a pillar of salt." and then there's that : [19:30] Now Lot went up out of Zoar and settled in the hills with his two daughters, for he was afraid to stay in Zoar; so he lived in a cave with his two daughters. [19:31] And the firstborn said to the younger, "Our father is old, and there is not a man on earth to come in to us after the manner of all the world. [19:32] Come, let us make our father drink wine, and we will lie with him, so that we may preserve offspring through our father." [19:33] So they made their father drink wine that night; and the firstborn went in, and lay with her father; he did not know when she lay down or when she rose. [19:34] On the next day, the firstborn said to the younger, "Look, I lay last night with my father; let us make him drink wine tonight also; then you go in and lie with him, so that we may preserve offspring through our father." [19:35] So they made their father drink wine that night also; and the younger rose, and lay with him; and he did not know when she lay down or when she rose. [19:36] Thus both the daughters of Lot became pregnant by their father." The last time I read about so much incest, it was in Game of Thrones ! I guess it was a way for the Bible's writer to explain where their ennemies came from ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HisChildForever Posted January 9, 2016 Share Posted January 9, 2016 (edited) I was coming to this thread to ask why Noah was cursing Ham's son when he woke. So Ham raped his father, whereas the other two sons respectfully clothed him? Did Ham tell his brothers about Noah, thinking that they too would rape him? If the very worst of humanity was killed in the flood, why wasn't Ham included if he had such a wicked heart? And why the heck would he rape Noah.. Edited January 9, 2016 by HisChildForever Grammar. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seven77 Posted January 9, 2016 Author Share Posted January 9, 2016 8 hours ago, NadaTeTurbe said: About Noah getting drunk, in the jewish tradition, they say that Ham/Cham, raped Noah, because it's what "see the nakedness" means in hebrew. I don't know more... 2 hours ago, HisChildForever said: I was coming to this thread to ask why Noah was cursing Ham's son when he woke. So Ham raped his father, whereas the other two sons respectfully clothed him? Did Ham tell his brothers about Noah, thinking that they too would rape him? If the very worst of humanity was killed in the flood, why wasn't Ham included if he had such a wicked heart? And why the heck would he rape Noah.. My understanding is that Ham was saved because he believed that the flood would happen, and he, along with his father, was of the pure line of Seth. Also, his wicked act took place after the flood. We're only accountable for our sins after we carry them out. Nada's right that to “uncover nakedness” is a euphemism for having sex. But as Noah is of one flesh with his wife, to uncover his nakedness is to uncover hers--Ham committed incest with his mother or father's wife if they are 2 different people, probably to steal the inheritance from his older brother. That's why his son Canaan is cursed because he is the offspring of the sinful union. It seems to me that both Noah and Mrs. Noah were drunk and literally naked and Ham took advantage of the situation. Crazy stuff. Dr. Scott Hahn's apostolate is a good resource to use while we read the narrative books of the Bible: https://stpaulcenter.com/studies/lesson/lesson-three-east-of-eden-headed-to-egypt Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HisChildForever Posted January 10, 2016 Share Posted January 10, 2016 Thanks for the link, helpful stuff. I do feel bad for Canaan. He did nothing wrong. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
A Yearning Heart Posted January 10, 2016 Share Posted January 10, 2016 I've probably heard the answer before (think its akin to a monetary inheritance that is spent, rather than passed on to the next generation) but I've always wondered about the inheritance of sin, which comes up again here with Canaan and the lineages of the sons of God and the daughters of men. While sin is seen to be freely chosen (even in a 'good lineage), it's curse is passed on. Like the links: lots of info. Makes me wish Bible translations had more footnotes explaining those phrases (that would help ALOT). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seven77 Posted January 12, 2016 Author Share Posted January 12, 2016 Reading for day 9: Gen. 33-36 http://biblestudyforcatholics.com/day-9/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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